Note from the editor - Etika

1 Note from the editorAlthough the 24 finat test methods described in this publication have been prepared with the utmost care andaccuracy, it should be noted that the safety, efficiency and performance of these test methods and associatedprocedures is the responsibility of the end-user. FINAT cannot be held liable for any loss, damage or injury resultingfrom their application. Furthermore, the test methods and associated information do not in themselves imply anyspecification of performance relating to the materials under Hague, May 2001 FINAT Technical Handbook 6th edition, 200112 Preface to the sixth editionAs the Chairman of the FINAT Technical Committee, it is my pleasure to introduce the 6thedition of the FINAT Technical Handbook.

2 Over the years, the FINAT Technical Handbookand the finat test methods that it contains have developed as the international referencestandard for suppliers and users of self-adhesive edition incorporates four new test methods , FTM 7, FTM 22, FTM 23 and FTM 24respectively for the measurement of silicone coat weight, advanced ink adhesion, die-striketest and mandrel hold test. In addition, all the test methods have been reviewed and alongwith the information sections 13 has been added to offer guidelines for accelerated ageing owes recognition to the members of the FINAT Technical Committee, who wereclosely involved in the revision of the Test methods and thus actively contributed to thecommittee s main objective: to understand and promote the science and technology of self-adhesive labelling.

3 Drawing its knowledge from a wide range of industry members interests, the FINAT Technical Committee provides aninformed body of professional expertise focused on the processes and materials used in the manufacture of self-adhesive labelstock, their conversion and subsequent monitoring developments, trends in technology, in changing market use, and environmental issues, it provides anongoing source of technical data and expert opinion and encourages networking and improved technicalunderstanding throughout our global JackChairman FINAT Technical CommitteeDow Corning , UKSeptember 2001 Copyright 2001 FINAT, The Hague, The NetherlandsAll rights reservedFINAT Technical Handbook 6th edition.

4 20013 ContentsSection 1 finat test methods 5 Section 2 Test Equipment Standard FINAT Test Automatic Rolling Sources of Test Equipment 61 Section 3 Recommended joins in self-adhesive laminates for roll labels68 Section 4 Processing recommendations 69 Section 5 Surfaces requiring caution 71 Section 6 Safety guide for users of self-adhesive label stock products 72 Section 7 Handling and storage of label stock 74 Section 8 Adhesion problems 75 Section 9 Removal of adhesives or adhesive labels 76 Section 10 Adhesives 78 Section 11 Unwind roll chart 81 Section 12 Communication of technical data between labelstock manufacturer and label printer 82 Section 13 Guidelines for accelerated ageing tests844 FINAT Technical Handbook 6th edition, 2001 Section 1 finat test methods for Self-adhesive MaterialsFTM 1 Peel adhesion (180 ) at 300mm per minute 6 FTM 2 Peel adhesion (90 ) at 300mm per minute 8 FTM 3 Low speed release force 11 FTM 4 High speed release Force 13 FTM 5 Resistance to elevated temperatures 15 FTM 6 Resistance to ultra-violet light 16 FTM 7 Silicone Coat Weight 18 FTM 8 Resistance to shear from a standard surface20 FTM 9 Loop tack measurement 22 FTM 10 Quality of silicone coated substrates for self-adhesive laminates.

5 Release force 25 FTM 11 Quality of silicone coated substrates for self-adhesive laminates: subsequent adhesion 27 FTM 12 Adhesive coat weight30 FTM13 Low temperature adhesion 31 FTM14 Dimensional stability 34 FTM15 Surface tension of plastic films .36 FTM16 Chemical resistance Spot method 39 FTM17 Chemical resistance Immersion method 40 FTM18 Dynamic shear 42 FTM19 Recycling compatibility of self-adhesive labels 45 FTM20 Fluorescence and whiteness 50 FTM21 Ink adhesion (basic) 53 FTM22 Ink adhesion (advanced)55 FTM23 Die strike57 FTM24 Mandrel hold59 FINAT Technical Handbook 6th edition, 20015 FTM1 FINAT Test Method no. 1 Peel adhesion (180 ) at 300mm per minuteScopeThis test method is designed to quantify the permanence of adhesion or peelabilityof self-adhesive pressure sensitive) adhesion is defined as the force required to remove pressure sensitive coatedmaterial, which has been applied to a standard test plate under specified conditionsfrom the plate at a specified angle and is measured 20 minutes and 24 hours after application, the latter beingconsidered as the ultimate EquipmentA tensile tester or similar machine, capable of peeling a laminate through an angle of180 with a jaw separation rate of 300mm per minute with an accuracy of 2%.

6 Test plates made of float glass or similar plate glass (Kristallspiegelglas, verre glace).A standard FINAT test PiecesThese should be strips taken from a representative sample of material. The stripsshould be 25 mm wide and have a minimum length of 175 mm in the machinedirection. The cuts should be clean and straight. At least three strips should betaken from each material ConditionsTemperature 23 C 2 C, 50 % RH 5% RH. The test sample or test stripsshould be conditioned for not less than 4 hours before testing. ProcedureRemove the backing material from each strip and place the adhesive coated facingmaterial, adhesive side down, on to a clean test plate using light finger twice in each direction with the standard FINAT test roller at a speed ofapproximately 10 mm per second to obtain intimate contact between the adhesivemass and the applying the strips to the test plate, leave for a period of 20 minutes beforetesting.

7 Repeat the procedure with a second set of strips and leave for a period of24 hours before the test plate and strip in the machine so that the angle of peel is 180 . Set themachine at 300mm per minute jaw separation rate. Carry out the test taking atleast five readings at 10 mm intervals from the centre section of each test the five or more readings for each adhesion (180 ) is expressed as the average result for the strips tested inNewtons per 25mm width for either 20 minutes or 24 hours application Technical Handbook 6th edition, 2001180 v = 300 mm/minFailure Description CodeCPClear Panel - no visible stain on Stain - discoloration of test area, but no tacky Failure - the adhesive film is split during the test, leaving residueof adhesive on both the panel and the front Transfer - the adhesive separates cleanly from the front material,leaving adhesive film on the test panel.

8 The approximate extent of transfer should be quoted as percentagePTPaper Tear - the adhesive force exceeds the strength of a paper facingmaterial. The results quoted should be the maximum reached before thepaper The test plates must be thoroughly cleaned so that no trace of adhesive, grease,silicone or moisture is left on the surface. The following solvents can be used toclean the test plates: Diacetone alcohol non-residual, technical grade or better Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Acetone Methanol 95 % n-Heptane Ethyl AcetateThe cleaning material must be absorbent, surgical gauze, cotton wool ortissue. To be suitable, materials must be lint-free during use, absorbent, containno additives that are soluble in the solvents listed above, and made exclusivelyfrom virgin one of the solvents listed above on to the panel, wiping it to drynesswith fresh absorbent cleaning material.

9 Repeat for a total of three washes withthe solvent. Final wipe shall be with MEK or methods which remove contamination properly can be adopted, ultrasonic to use, the cleaned plates should be left for 4 hours under standard testconditions. Care should be taken to handle clean plates by the edge Alternative surfaces to plate glass can be used such as stainless steel oraluminium or polyester film, but this must be clearly stated alongside the If adhesion values are required when paper tear has occurred, then this test canbe conducted at lower jaw separation rates quoting the latter against Conversion 1kgf- = N Issued October 1985 Revised March 1999 Revised May 2001 FINAT Technical Handbook 6th edition, 20017 FTM 2 FINAT Test Method no.

10 2 Peel adhesion (90 ) at 300mm per minuteScopeThis test method differs from FTM 1 in that it can allow the end user to comparethe repositionability of different laminates. Measuring peel adhesion at 90 normally gives a lower value than at 180 and allows values to be measured formaterials normally giving paper adhesion is defined as the force required to remove pressure sensitive coatedmaterial, which has been applied to a standard test plate under specifiedconditions, from the plate at a specified angle and speed. Adhesion is measured 20minutes and 24 hours after application, the latter being considered as the ultimateadhesion .Test EquipmentA tensile tester or similar machine capable of peeling a laminate through an angleof 90 with a jaw separation rate of 300mm per minute and an accuracy of 2%.